Direction indicator with swingable arrow



I H. B. M CAINE DIRECTION INDICATOR WITH SWINGABLE ARROW 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET 1 July 22, 1952 Filed Nov. 28, 1950 Fig.2

Harry B. Mccaine INVENTOR.

BY ufl kk Patented July 22, 1952 nmao'rIoN INDICATO 1 ARRO mrn iSWINGABLE 1 I i m B. Mcaine, Atlantic City, N. J. V 7 Application November 28, 1950, Serial No. 197,967 1 This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in automotive direction indicators, and more particularly pertains to improvements in direction indicators of the type disclosed in In previous Patent 1,861,126.

In my Patent 1,861,126, there was disclosed a direction indicator which included a horizontally swingable arrow, which arrow was electrically actuable to cause the same to swing in the direction in which the driver intends toturn. 'The construction disclosed in the patent, referred to above,'however, precludes movement in a complete semi-circle, viz. one-quarteriturn in both directions from the neutral position of the arrow and consequently limited the effectiveness of the device for signalling purposes. It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a signal device in which the arrowmay be swung a quarter turn in both directions from the neutral position.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved housing for the signal device constructed in accordance with the foregoing object, which will facilitate. the assembly and disassembly of the same.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision .of a crankshaft having an arrow adjacent one end thereof with a 'pivotally mounted armature slidably receiving the crankthrow portion of the shaft, andwhich armature is so dimensioned that when the latter is pivoted by solenoids disposed on opposite sides; thereof, the arrow carried by the shaft will be oscillated through substantially one-quarter turn in. each direction from a predetermined neutral position.

Another feature of this invention residesin the provision of a housing for the direction indicator constructed in accordance with the foregoing feature, which housing includes upper and lower sections, the crankshaftbeing-journaled in the top and bottom wall of the upper and lower section respectively and with a pair of lights disposed on the back wall of the upper section, each ofwhich lights is disposed in registry with the direction arrow when the latter is in either of its turn indicating positions.

A further feature of this invention resides in an improved means for securing the sections of the housing together. 1

These, together with various ancillary object and features are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the housm v 7 Claims. (01. 177-32i) Figure z side elevational viewof -rhe hous- I Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on rthe plane 3- 3 of-Figure 2;,

FigureA is a longitudinal vertical'sectional view ofthe housing,,taken on the plane 4+4 of Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram fora single direction indicator; and,

Figure 6 is a schematic wiring of the, circuit for actuating a plurality of direction indicators by a common control.

Reference is now made'more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein the direction indicator is denoted generally by the numeral I0.

The housing'of the direction indicator includes upper and'lower sections l2 and M. respectively. The upper sectionincludes a top wall I6,,side walls .18 and a rear wall 20, each preferably being molded or otherwise formed integrally with the top wall. A horizontally disposed shelf 1 22 is formed integrally with the side walls I8 adjacent the forward lower edge thereof. A longitudinally arcuate pane or shield 26,. of transparent material, has the'upper edge thereof disposed in abutting relationship withanarcuate depending flange 28 carried by the undersurface ofthe wall IS, the lower edge of the shield resting upon shelf 22. A suitable longitudinally arcuate frame 30 is secured to the upper section in any desired manner, to retain the shield in position. The ends of the shield 26 are received in recesses 3| in the side walls I8 of the upper section whereby the shield, which is preferably slightly resilient, wi be retained in position. i v

The lower section includes a hollow wall 32, a front wall 34, side walls 36, and a rear wall 3-8, each of which is molded or otherwise formed integrally with the bottom wall. The forward wall has aninwardly directed flange 40 on the upper edge thereof, and the shelf 22 has an offset lip 42 on the lower face thereof which engages the flange 40 to retain the forward portions of the upper and lower sections together.

Axially aligned bores 44 and 46 are formed in the rear walls 20 and 38 respectively, the bore 44 being internally threaded to receive the threaded end of the bolt48. The bore 46 slidably'receives thebolt '48, and a counterbore 50 isformed on thevlower'end of the. bore 48to receive the head 520i the bolt 48.. n It will thus be noted that'the lip 42 engages the flange 40 to retain the forward portion of the upper and lower sections together, while thebolt 48 securesrthe rear sections to.- gether. ,In order toinsure proper registry of the contiguousedgesof the upper andlower sections,

ward edge thereof received in a channel 68 in the shelf 22, the ends of thefjpanel' being sup- In operation, whenever the switch I or I08, dependent upon whether a single or multiple unit is utilized, is moved to actuate one of the solenoids 82 and the lamp 94 corresponding thereto, then the armature will be attracted by the solenoid and horizontally pivoted into engagement withv the projecting endof the..solenoid core 8%.

When thearmature isinithis position," the crank throw will be" pivoted thereby one-quarter turn .into a position substantially normal to neutral position of the crankthrow. When in this posi- '.'.tion',1the end'lofithej yoke 88. will engage the crankported by suitable ribs 70 carried by the lower i edge of the side walls [8. An arrow .12, .of a transparent material such as-pla'stic.hasthe rear portion thereof non=rotatably secured'tto' the shaft 58 above the panel 96, and a spring 14 v is attached to the crankthrow and thebottom wall to urge the shaft 58 and arrow carried thereby'into a position" parallel to the longitudinal" axis of housing.

armature 18 .:is h-orizontally "pivotally mounted on the stub' shaft 8 and a':U:-shaped yolge au is carried bythe end of the armatureTfor "slidably reciving the crankthrow. It is intended that the length of the armature and yoke be'such that when the crankthrowis di'spose'd one quarter turn out of its neutral 'positiom 'shown in 'Figures' 3 and 4; the end' of the yoke will engage the' cra'nk throw to limit further turningtl'iereof.

A pair of solenoids 82 are secured, -as byfastenors'84 to the bottomiwall 32;.the1solenoids each .pr'efe'r'ablyrbeing di'sposed'zzso'fa's to lie normal to theiarmature lfiiwhenlthe latterlisf' in either of its .zextreme laterally i'displaced :positions. The,

'ooresi'flfiiof the solenoidsiareladapteditoiabutthe armature, awhenrthe 'latterlis." in either extreme vlaterallyrdi'splaced positions rwhereby the armature will bel'firmlyfretained. irr that position when either offthei:solenoids is ?energized, and .consezquentlyithe arrowsflrwill be Ifirmly'retainednormalto thel'longitudinal' axis of the housing.

,"'A. 1ongitudinally zarcuatez-refiector.:88rhas the .end portions thereof-retained. in thechann'els' defin'ediiby :the verticals ribs: 907 carried 'by vth'erside walls-6L8 "f: the.: :upper:'section,. the; intermediate portion ;of t-thetrefieetor :beingsupported by'the lampzsoc'ketssfii 2which1are-"carried by the rear walllz'fl of'theirupperrsection; and which :sockets extend .ithrough :suitable: apertures in "the freneetor; Theeso'ckets :92 and "lamps 94 "carried ther'eby are each dispose'd"so as to be in" registry with thef forward portioniofithe aarrow" 12 when the latter is in either turn indicating-position, -as

is-clearl'y apparent froma consideration'of' Fig- I Obviously suitable aperturedlugs 9'5 may be secured to or 'forme'd-'integrally with' the lowerisection, whereby the direction indicator maybe secured-to a vehicle. 7

".In' the wiring diagram= shown in Figura 5' for a single direction indicator unit, each iof' the solenoids '82 anchthelamp corre'sponding' to' that solenoid 1 are 'i'electrically connected :in 'seriesiby conductors" 98ian'dz99 to a'singlepole. double-throw switch H10; whi'chsswitchis :otherwise connected toasource: ofpowen l 02,-esuch as'ithe vehicle: battery. 1111 the diagram'shownzin Figure'i6;:each':of the isolenoidsisfiz and ;:lamps1-3 94 corresponding thereto are connected. in'-series, the corresponding .solenoi'dsandislamps of =eachfiof'itheiunits bein electrically connected in parallel'with each-i other, as by conductors m4 andifllli 'which conductors are connected 't'oaa'ni actuator:- switch l08 wirhich isotherwise connected tothesource ofpower no.

"Ithrow to limit further rotary movement thereof.

Since .the lamp 94 corresponding to the actul5 'atedsolenoidwill also be energized, it will be appreciated;thatrthe arrow 12 will be disposed in registry with an illuminated lamp. When the solenoid'and lamp are deactuated, the spring Hi returnsthe crankthrowf-and arrow carried thereb'y tlfitsneutral position.

"' 'Having fles'eri-bedthe-invention at is claimed :1. iA 'direction 1 indicator comprisingahousing including a top, a bottom andea rear-wall," a vertical'l dis'pos'ed rod jour'naled in -said top I and bottom walls, -said J rod .1 including a U sh'aped crank flshroufladjaceritthelower. end thereof said crank throw including an-aoi'fset vertical portion,

aniarmaturel' horizontally' 'pivotally attached to saidsbottompsaid;armatureincludin .a' U-shaped yoke thereonslixiably and 'rotatab'ly receiving the .offsttverti'caliportioneofl said crank throw, the closed rendioflsaidsyokeengagingl'the'crank throw to i'limit: itheaslidingimotion :of "the :crankithrow 'thereon,:a.pairc of solenoids-Imounted .on' said bottomiforiselectively pivoting saidsarmature, and

is in a;position' whereby' the. arrow-carried there- .by'lis'g substantially '"normal to I the plane defined by said f ro'dand the axis of" rotation of said ar rnatu-re; sprin'gmeans-attached to said crankthrowfand said base yieldinglyurging said arrow into iitsjneutral position;

4. direction indicatorcorn-prising a housing hav-ing agtop, Fbottom'fanwa 'reargwall, a vertically spose'd-"-rodj'ournaled in'said top and bottom wa1-1s, sa1drod-'having'aueshaped crankthrow adj acenti' 'the lower 'end thereof, an armature her'izontally pivotaljly attached to said bottom, said armature-haying-a U shaped guide thereon' slidably arid rotata bly-receivingthe offset vertical portion of said cranlfthrow, a pair of solenoids mounted on saidbottom' for selectivelymivo'ting said armature; a direction arrow carrie'd bY-the uppenend-of-said' rod; the length of 5said armature'and' said yoke being greater than -the iii'stance" between the aXis of rotation of said rod and the axis of rotationgof saidi-armature whereby said' armature'wiH pivot said rod through substantially one-half revolutio nfa pair of lamps carried by said back wall, each of said lamps registering with said arrow when the latter is in either'of its turn indicating positions paralleling said back wall.

5. A direction indicator comprising a housing including upper and lower sections, said lower section including a, bottom wall, front and rear walls secured to said bottom wall, said upper section including a top wall, rear and side walls secured to said top wall, said front wall of said lower section having an inwardly directed flange.

attaching means carried by said side walls of said upper section and engageable with saidfiange to retain the forward portion of said sections together, means carried by said rear wall of said lower section and engageable with said rear wall of said upper section for locking the rear portions of said sections together.

6. A direction indicator comprising a housing including upper and lower sections, said lower sections including a bottom wall, front and rearv to secure the forward portions of said sections.

together, means carried by said rear wall of said lower section and engaging with said rear wall of said upper section for locking the rear portions of said sections together, a crankshaft jour naled in said top and bottom walls, a horizon tally disposed panel carried by said attaching means and engaging said crankshaft interme? diate the ends thereof to laterally brace said crankshaft, an arrow carried by the upper end of said crankshaft, and means disposed in said lower section below saidv horizontally disposed panel and engageable with said crankshaft for selectively oscillating the same.

7. A direction indicator comprising a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, an opaque rear wall, side and front walls having a window therein, a transparent panel in said window, a shaft journaled in said top and bottom walls, said shaft having a U-shaped crank throw adjacent the lower end thereof, an armature mounted for horizontal oscillatory movement on said base, a slotted yoke secured rigidly to said armature and slidably receiving said crank throw in said slot, 9, pair of solenoids mounted on said bottom wall for selectively oscillating said armature, a direction arrow mounted on said shaft, in proximity to said window said arrow being composed of colored light transmitting material, a pair of light bulbs mounted on the rear wall behind said shaft for selectively supplying light through said arrow.

HARRY B. McCAINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,486,410 Bagwall Mar. 11, 1924 1,665,584 Eddy -1 Apr. 10, 1928 1,687,065 Hanson Oct. 2, 1928 1,861,126 McCaine May 31, 1932 2,437,944 Edwards Mar. 16, 1948 

